As I reread over Cheryl’s words, my heart breaks again. God has given her a strength unknown to many, to most. Let’s continue John’s story. (If you missed Part 1 yesterday, click here.)

Within three months I was starting to worry. The autistic like trance I had seen John slip into would be repeated over and over, out of the blue with no warning. It would last only a few minutes and then the happy go lucky toddler would come back to play. I said nothing to anyone, until the morning his preschool director called. She asked me to come in and sit outside the classroom door and watch what John was doing. I told her I knew, he was going into some kind of spell and loosing contact. We talked as I watched John hide under a table and rock and cry for a few minutes.

“That’s autism.” I said slowly

“Can’t be, I mean he was not born autistic.” She said

“I know, but that’s what that is, something has caused it.” I said.

“Well I never heard of that, but it’s getting worse and more frequent here, and he is loosing his speech.” She said staring into the room and not looking at me.

“I know, I just don’t know what to make of it.” I said back, also staring straight into the room and not looking at her. Continue reading →